Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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$n ptemcanmtt. Professor | ohJt §. ffirombic. DIED APRIL 16, 1893. Good-bve, dear friend, good-bye, Say we below to you on high. The golden bowl is broken, The will of God is spoken. Yet take this simple token: Your kindly words, in gentle, graceful, manly manner To your children spoken Will not be forgotten. ’T was not in your heart to chide; Ever yours the soul to guide, With your pupils by your side. Twigs were we, inclined to bend; Then we met our brother, friend. Recognized in him a trait That will make us upright, straight. Wholesome counsel you have left us, Hut our Father hath bereft 11s— You are home. His will be done. Your crown is won. We’ve a Friend above to meet us, A Brother there to greet us When we come. 9

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equalled only by his proficiency in them. It was a peculiar feature of Iowa College, that the athletes were the best scholars. For an athlete to be below the average in his studies was a positive disgrace. At that time no Greek letter fraternities had been introduced into the college. Their place was held by various literary and scientific organizations, among which, and the most important of which, was the Christo-Mathian Literary Society. Professor Greer considers the training which he received in that society as of more practical value than the pursuit of anyone study throughout his college course. “No student,” he says, ‘‘can afford to neglect the study of English in his education. A student who is ready by word of mouth or word of pen is thrice armed for any emergency.” Soon after leaving college Professor Greer entered the law office of Cook and Dodge,in Davenport. After about a year with this firm, during which time he had almost prepared himself for admission to the bar, he accepted a responsible position with a telephone company, which had its headquarters at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A year after he was made principal of School No. 2, of Davenport; which posi tion, in January, 1889, he resigned, to become principal of the North Side High School in Minneapolis; and in August, 1892, he exchanged this position for the corresponding one at the Central High School, vice Professor Crombie, who had resigned. Though succeeding a most popular man, who had resigned under circumstances which would tend to make the position of his successor one of unusual difficulty, Professor Greer has achieved a great success. He at once secured the resj ect and admiration of both teachers and pupils, and now enjoys such a degree of popularity as is seldom the reward of one in his position. The story of Professor Greer’s life is a story of advancement. As a boy, as a youth, and as a man, he has shown by manly bearing and persevering industry, that he both prized and was determined to make excellent use of his opportuni ties for self improvement. Fortunate, indeed, arc the students of this school to have among them, as guide and instructor, one whose personality and influence must continually stimulate them to high endeavor, and make all who know him the better for the privilege. 8

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JVJiss Qrace Williams. Pff ISS GRACE WILLIAMS was born at Hadley,Massachusetts. Early in her life the family removed to Chicago, which was her home until she came to Minneapolis. In Chicago her father practiced law with such success that he was elected judge. This position he held for sixteen years. Miss Williams received her education in Chicago, with the exception of two years at Dr. Dwight’s school in Clinton, New York. While attending Kenwood Seminary, in Chicago, she became intensely interested in the subject of elocution, which, with literature and history, has occupied her attention ever since. Miss Williams has had much special training for the work she does so well. For several years she pursued the studv of elocution with the eminent reader and instructor. Professor Cumnock, of the Northwestern I’niversitv. Miss Williams took a subsequent course in the Dclsarte system of expression with Mrs. Frank Stuart Parker, of the Illinois State Norm d School, and, more recently, a course in the Boston School of Expression. On the death of her father, Miss Williams’ Chicago home was broken up and the Family removed to Minneapolis. At this time she received her appointment as teacher in elocution in the High School, which she has now held for nine years. She has given public readings at different times, though not often, since coming to Minneapolis. Both her time and her strength have been absorl ed in teaching. But although she has made comparatively few appearances before the Minneapolis public. Miss Williams has won recognition as a talented, delightful reader. Her occasional appearances are hailed with delight and a number by her is considered a rare treat. She is happily free from the unpleasant affectations that mar so many public readers. Iler delivery is modest and unaffected but she does not lack force. She is emphatically not a “ranter,” but she is possessed of wonderful dramatic feelimr, and has the art of making her hearers in sympathy with the character she portrays. In appearance Miss Williams is very attractive. A stranger seeing her about the school halls would Ik more likely to take her for a senior girl than for a teacher of the seniors. No photograph can show her bright, changing expression and the indescribable, magnetic charm of her personality. Miss Williams has been very kind to the class of ninety-three, during both its junior and its senior years. The class has given two highly successful musical and literarv evenings and on both occasions Miss Williams has contributed a reading, besides much assistance in preparing the program. She has always been glad to help us in whatever way she could, and she may be sure we shall not forget it. Her kindness, her sympathy, her womanly refinement, and her keen sense of humor are some of the qualities that have endeared her to every heart in Ninety-three. We all unite in wishing her a hearty God-speed. 10